1 John 5:18 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Conclusion (1 John 5:14-21).

John concludes his letter with four major points.

1) The certainty that Christians can have of victory through prayer. In the face of all that confronts them they can be bold for they have access to the All-powerful One Who hears their prayers as they go about doing His will, and will respond to what they ask which is within His will..

2) This is an extension of 1). That they must pray for each other when they fall into sin. For Christians must be ever watchful, and they can be sure that their prayers will be mightily effective in the delivering of one another from the sin that could drag them down.

3) That that they must keep their eyes on God, and on Jesus Christ, and keep themselves from sin, recognising that they are begotten by Him and in Him have eternal life. Thus will they be kept safe from the Evil One in whose arms the whole of the world lies.

4) That they be on their guard and keep themselves from the Evil One and from all taints of idolatry in a world where idolatry lies at every hand seeking to entangle the unwary.

1 John 5:14-21

14 And this is the confidence that we have inb him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.